Dalai Lama cancels S.Africa trip over visa problem

The Dalai Lama has cancelled a proposed trip to South Africa this week after authorities there failed to grant him a visa in time, his office said on Tuesday. Anti-apartheid leader Desmond Tutu had invited the Tibetan spiritual leader, a fellow Nobel Peace Prize winner, to give an inaugural peace lecture as part of celebrations for Tutu's 80th birthday on Friday. "His Holiness was to depart for South Africa on October 6, 2011 but visas have not been granted yet," said a statement from the Dalai Lama's office in India explaining the cancellation of the trip.